Che Guevara: Until Victory Forever

   Gualdo Hidalgo’s Che Guevara: Until Victory Forever documents the fascinating events of guerilla warfare in the life of Latin American revolutionary—Che Guevara. Famous among Latin Americans and even Hollywood, Che Guevara was one of Fidel Castro’s favorites; Castro referred to Guevara as “an artist of guerilla warfare.”

Che Guevara: Until Victory Forever glamorizes the life and death of Che Guevara through the words of his friends and enemies. The book reveals Guevara’s contributions to the guerilla movement that created upheaval in Cuba and General Fulgencio Batista’s regime. The book is particularly interesting because of Hidalgo’s articles analyzing the thoughts of Che Guevara, as well as the primary accounts of Guevara’s life—derived from CIA declassified sources.

One of the more revealing documents, written by Che Guevara himself, is his farewell letter to Fidel Castro and the people of Cuba. In the letter, he states, “I have fulfilled the part of my duty that tied me to the Cuban revolution…and I say goodbye to you, to the comrades, to your people, who are now mine.”

A lifelong revolutionary, Guevara also traveled to Africa and China and contributed to revolutions in order to bring justice to oppressed people. In fact, the need for revolution was referred to in Latin America as “Guervarism.” Even in death, Che Guevara is considered the embodiment of human sensitivity and intelligence. However, his death did not discourage, but rather inspired. For example, Hidalgo states, “Nevertheless, this is the weak side of the imperialist enemy. Thinking that, along with the physical man, it has liquidated his virtues; thinking that, along with the physical man, it has liquidated his example.” In essence, this is saying that many will desire to emulate Che Guevara, even to follow in his footsteps, because of his immense contributions to the people of Latin America.

The author, Gualdo Hidalgo, can attest to the inspiration that is Che Guevara because he not only met the man, but also stayed in his guerilla headquarters as a mere seven year-old. Published by Latin Heritage Foundation, Che Guevara: Until Victory Forever reveals the many fascinating details of Guevara’s life and is a must read for history buffs and all of Latin America.

The Bully Cycle: A South African Story

   In Grace Zuzo’s latest rendition of her South African roots, The Bully Cycle: A South African Story, she uses conversations between Chuaro and her mother to effectively convey the rampant practice of racism and unnecessary violent behavior toward South Africans, their kids, and even animals. Author of feel-good stories such as Why Pastor’s Kid Refused to go to Church, and Different is Not Stupid or Ugly, Zuzo depicts the culture clash between South Africans and Europeans.

The bully cycle begins with the maltreatment and cruelty with which African men are dealt by their European counterparts. They are forced to call Europeans “baas” and “klein baas” (junior boss), while African men are being referred to as “boys.” Ironically, it’s the South African men that go through the rigorous rite of passage to become men.

This cycle is repeated when the man returns home from his day of dehumanizing insults. Chuaro’s mother explains, “The angry black man goes home and takes it out on his wife. That’s why you saw your friend’s father pushing his wife around when he came home. He was angry and trying to feel like the man he is.”

At the same time, Zuzo demonstrates the no-win situation created for the black woman. She states, “The black woman’s story is sadder because she has to deal with the angry black man, her husband, and the European woman, her boss.”

The beauty in this work is in understanding young Chuaro and how she becomes so immersed in her mom’s teaching and father’s preaching. Chuaro, along with her friend Zola, figure out the entire bully cycle: the European man bullies the South African man. The South African man, in turn, takes his anger out on his wife. The wife, having endured bullying from both husband and European “missies,” channels her anger onto her children. The children then bully their dogs, while the dogs bully the cats, which bully the mice. The mice bully the South African men—who can’t stand the sight of mice.

In this bullying carousel, one thing is evident: “everything alive had an outlet for its frustrations and how everything alive that gets bullied would get something else to bully.”

Overall, The Bully Cycle aims to create an awareness of this concept of bullying, especially in younger children. One resounding message from the book is: instead of trying to stop bullying from sprouting all over, the seeds of bullying should never be planted in the first place. Zuzo’s childhood stories deliver profound moral lessons. The Bully Cycle: A South African Story is a great addition to Grace Zuzo’s books, as well as a great addition to your school or home library.

To Snare A Wolf

   Robert Nowak’s To Snare a Wolf is a riveting fiction that transports the reader into the 19th century French and Prussian cultures transversing many parts of the Fa Day See ekla or end of the century. Including is a Moulin Rouge nightclub entertainer, a Parisian Bordello, studios of the impressionists’ painters. Sit and enjoy the Champs-Elysee cafes. Nowak intensely describes the character’s emotions and detail background using sights, sounds and touching.

Divided into three different “books,” To Snare a Wolf is a tale of espionage revolving around two main characters: Christian Dejoux and Berlin aristocrat Wolfgang Loewenhardt. This is a coming-of-age tale for 14 year-old Christian, whose romantic idea of war and crushing the Prussians is quickly shattered when he suffers a bayonet wound in his arm. His naïveté is exposed as the narrator states, “the lad was cold, soaked to the core, exhausted from loss of sleep, and frightened by the death around him. He wished he was back in his warm bed in Strasbourg, Alsace, eating his mother’s cooking and still attending school with his friends.”

After the death of his father, Christian must sacrifice his friends and his comfortable life in Strasbourg in the interest of his own survival, which means moving in with his drunkard uncle in Paris. His life turns upside-down when he returns to Strasbourg to find that his mother has been killed and his childhood city destroyed. These unfortunate events put Christian front and center in the war, and lead to his inevitable encounter with Wolfgang Loewenhardt.

The book provides a refreshing and vivid angle in depicting late 19th century culture with the presence of the most famous Parisian artists of the time, including Edouard Manet and Edgar Degas. In fact, Manet hires Christian to pose as a fifer boy for his famous artistic endeavor.

Christian is adopted by his late father’s friend and attends the prestigious St. Cyr Military Academy near Paris. At his point, Christian leaves behind his childhood and matures into a young man, with an everlasting love for Heidi, a secretary of the German Ministry of War in Berlin.

Ultimately, both Christian and Wolfgang are loyal to their respective countries, dedicating their lives to stealing artillery design plans-Christian for France and Wolfgang for the Germans. The story assumes a frenetic pace when it is made clear that events will result in an epic clash between Christian and Wolfgang-the fate of two nations hanging in the balance. One quote by Napoleon Bonaparte that captures the spirit of this story is “God is on the side with the best artillery.”

Read To Snare a Wolf to find out which character ultimately gains access to the critical canon design and glory for this country. To be sure, Nowak’s smooth writing style with its myriad sensory details and fully fleshed characters will have the readers devouring this fascinating story- a story that will truly keep readers captivated until the very last page.

Tell-Tale Signs

   Michael Lee’s Tell-Tale Signs is a thrilling adventure novel that develops one of the most unique medieval themes ever: the ability to turn metal into gold. At the root,Tell-Tale Signs is a battle between good and evil and the quest for immortality. Undoubtedly, the author’s free flowing writing style and nonstop action elevate this book to a much more profound level.

The story revolves around ruthless murderer, Dr. Jia Wie, and her educated henchmen, Numbers 1-3— the collective antagonists of the story. The evil alliance is undeterred in its quest to rule the world through the implementation of a life-enhancing drug. All of the antagonists are renowned university professors, and Lee uses them to demonstrate how a little greed and a few perks can quickly corrupt: “The fact this was a criminal venture bothered him at first. The promise of $100,000, tax free, and the opportunity to study obscure manuscripts while on someone’s payroll diminished the anxiety.”

On the flip side, protagonist Big Mike Dempsey, Chief Superintendent, anticipates retiring from the police force. There is no doubt that he’s getting older and has enjoyed a long and fruitful career. Though relatively young at fifty-four, Dempsey suffers a heart attack and a triple bypass within six months from retirement. It would be six months too many as Dempsey, bad health and all, embarks upon a journey to catch the evil perpetrators.

The plotline revolves around a heist at not one, but three famous museums: the Palace of Versailles, the British Museum in London, and Vienna’s Kunsthistorisches Museum. When Numbers 1-3 reveal that, “We three, Jewel, Mueller and myself, used the manuscripts we retrieved from our various museums as fodder.” The purpose of this entire operation is to find all the alchemists—their names are in the manuscripts—that roam the earth, and from there it will be narrowed down to the one that holds the secret of immortality.

Although Chief Dempsey is an integral part of the book, he is more of a bystander, while most of the action occurs between Dr. Jia Wie and ancient immortals, which assume the lives of monks at the Benedictine Monastery in Switzerland. The captured scholars-turned-criminals state, “No, but I think it means Dr. Wie was on the right track. She hired us to obtain evidence of actual transmutations of metal into gold by medieval alchemists. She believes there may be actual immortals among us and clues as to their identity and habits may be obtained through the artifacts.”

The book climaxes when Jia Wie learns of the true powers of these immortal monks. One of the immortals, Weglossen, issues a challenge to Jia Wie by turning a lake into gold. He states, “‘Now Dr. Wie will know she has found at least one of us and we know who she is! Be careful what you wish for,’ he thought.” Read Tell-Tale Signs to discover the fate of Dr. Wie, and all those who view the secrets of the world with evil intent.

The story’s charm is in the uniqueness of the plot: immortality, medieval alchemy, museum heists, and scholarly criminals—what more could a reader ask for? Dr. Jia Wie and her learned comrades are an anti-Indiana Jones fused with a Dan Brown-esque pace and plot. For anyone interested in medieval alchemy, or simply reading a riveting adventure/suspense novel, Tell-Tale Signs is just the ticket. Michael Lee revisits the classic battle between good and evil—and features a unique perspective and plot line to create an original and most enticing read.

The Mother

   Life rarely ever travels in a straight line; in fact, it usually diverts off the beaten path at the most unexpected times. In Jeanne Kenny-Freeman’s The Mother, the protagonist, Rachelin is a perfect example of life’s unplanned detours. At the age of two, she sang, “Vesper Bells” at the annual Christmas pageant, convincing her entire “Ode to the River” community that she would someday become a famous musician.

Narrated by Josie, Rachelin’s younger sister, the story weaves in many thematic elements: love, marriage, motherhood, commitment, death, nature, and more. The plot centers on Rachelin and her son, who is born out of wedlock. Despite having several opportunities to release herself from Poor Boy’s burden, she is committed to raising him, resulting in conflict and ultimately separation from fiancée Joon van Breden.

Essentially, The Mother is presented in parts. The first part of the story is centered entirely on Rachelin and her perceived successful singing career. The second part of the story focuses on her coming of age, using her music to stir anti-Vietnam War sentiments at UC Berkeley, getting engaged to Joon van Breden, separation, and ultimately giving birth to Poor Boy, as he was known. Poor Boy, or Love as Rachelin sometimes called him, suffers from gigantism and Down Syndrome, a combination that gives him immense strength, but not the reasoning or aptitude to control his strength.

Poor Boy is strongly reminiscent of Lenny, from John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men. For example, Poor Boy ignorantly sucks the life right out of a kitten, prompting Rachelin to fear “that Poor Boy’s strength in years ahead, combined with ignorance could be a threat to human life.”

The next phase of the story reveals maturation within Rachelin, transforming her from a self-centered college girl to a nurturing mother who, for the sake of her child, lives the life of a recluse. In essence, she surrenders herself to another mother, Mother Nature, and tries to form a “oneness” with her creations. Though the men in Rachelin’s life have done nothing but disappoint her, she allows herself to unexpectedly fall in love with Greet Weatherhead.

One scene that particularly resonates is when Poor Boy accidentally falls into an unmarked mine shaft. Josie narrates, “And it was then someone came to her rescue. She saw no physical being, but she felt a presence as real as a breathing mate. A great and easy strength pulled the rope, so that it moved slackly through her hands, and her son was moved up.” This scene depicts the apex of Rachelin’s moral fortitude and her belief that a spirit is helping her to take care of her son.

Overall, The Mother portrays moral growth in Rachelin, the strength of a mother, and Mother Nature’s power to tend for her children. While the notions of healing and morality are an integral part of this book, these and other relevant themes are not presented in a dogmatic, preachy manner. On the contrary, the story is character-driven and Rachelin’s experiences are more than adequate to convey the sentiments of healing, strength, and morality.

From hopeless romantics and nature lovers to families of special needs children, this is a must read book that has future, big-screen potential. A true page-turner, this story completely engages its readers to the last page. Will Rachelin’s resolve provide a secure future for Poor Boy? Will Greet accept Poor Boy? Be sure to read The Mother to find out.

Foxes

   Charles Daniel’s Foxes is an action-packed romance that thoroughly entertains on every level. Foxes continues the story of Daniel’s first novel, which took place at Annapolis Naval Academy. From the beginning, Foxes fully captures the reader by spicing up the plot when Rachel, the main character, finds out that her love interest, Bruce, has been lying to her—throughout all of Daniel’s first novel—and he is not a commander in the Navy, but rather an FBI agent on a sting mission at the academy. This book will surely interest fans of Daniel’s debut novel, as well as young adults and Navy and Marine veterans.

The book opens up with Rachel finding her way amidst a largely all-male staff of recruiters. There is no denying that Rachel is quite gorgeous, forcing her to state that, “Be a hard nose boss. I have to. I have to make my subordinates be afraid of me so that they don’t concentrate on my being what you call, ‘A Fox’.”

While Rachel and Bruce are the central characters of the story, there are a slew of other characters that help to move the plot along and add comic relief. Rachel’s parents are obsessive about becoming grandparents, constantly nagging for a grandchild. Josh, Rachel’s older brother and musician, and Conrad, a leading officer in the Marine Corps round out the other principal characters.

After much deliberation, Rachel settles on Captain Conrad Cooper to lead a battalion of well-trained and highly dangerous Marines in Afghanistan. The passage that best describes Captain Conrad Cooper and his troops is, “Afghanistan the corrupt. That’s where Captain Cooper and his company landed. Why only a small group? It was a company with a specialty. It had linguist capabilities among other things. Something like a special forces unit. Several of the companies had special forces for the mountain area. These troops were the extreme of deadly. They also were equipped with mine destroyers. Some of them were experts in disguise with capable accents for the different language groups. Their purpose was to become a member of the insurgents with their cunning abilities to be convincing.”

Each member of the troop receives medals in Afghanistan. In Yemen, the Navy Seabees have performed a miracle in building a natural hideout that blends seamlessly with the land, where they celebrate their accomplishments as they rotate in and out of the assignment. Ultimately, Rachel and Bruce get married, while her brother, Josh, falls in love with a music professor, Kelly. The parents finally get their wish, as baby Mike is welcomed into the world.

Overall, this is an intriguing read that will be particularly appealing to veterans of the Navy and Marines. Charles Daniel’s Foxes truly satisfies readers on many levels, including those who relish a good romantic novel with dynamic characters and a rousing plot. Readers should be prepared to settle back and plan to turn pages to the very end.

Warrior Monk

   Ray Keating’s Warrior Monk: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel is a thrilling, even breath-taking roller coaster ride through the Vatican, the CIA, with assassinations and more. In the spirit of Dan Brown, Keating creates a character just as memorable and complex as Brown’s Robert Langdon. Keating’s expertise and research on the topic shines through his scenes and in the unfolding of the plot. It is often said that the best literary characters drive the plot, and Warrior Monk is a prime example.

Pastor Stephen Grant is a former CIA assassin, a programmed cold-blooded killer who does his deeds for the good of society—nevertheless he’s a killer. His first instincts are to kill rather than to forgive. Given his background, it’s fascinating to see how Stephen Grant adjusts to being a pastor and interacts with individuals who are “so easily spitting out the most personal and too often dark aspects of their lives, not to mention they even sought his guidance.”

Pastor Stephen Grant’s predicament is unique. When a shooting occurs at his beloved church, he finds himself having to reprogram himself; he must become the assassin he once was in order to restore an environment of safety to St. Mary’s and to protect the Pope.

The shooting at the church sets off a whirlwind of events transforming Pastor Stephen Grant into a gun-wielding, Bible-reading warrior monk. Conjure the image of a man willing to kill for the CIA—as an occupation—and the steps he must take to rid the evil from his own church. In one swift motion, Stephen Grant’s world is turned upside-down: “the two worlds merged in a flurry of bullets, blood, song and prayer.”

One passage that captures the spirit and intrigue of the book is, “Grant learned enough about human nature to know that evil existed and protection was necessary.” This passage is in response to Grant’s hidden gun cabinet in the church. When Grant’s CIA career and his life as a pastor merge into one, the story takes an exciting turn, which has Grant risking his life and overcoming one obstacle after the other in order to protect the Vatican and the Pope.

Anyone that enjoys a good thriller will relish the opportunity to read this book. Pastor Stephen Grant is a character that will live on in literature, lore, and leave the reader anticipating the next Stephen Grant novel.

South Of The Crisis

   Juan Corradi’s South of the Crisis: A Latin American Perspective on the Late Capitalist World is about globalization, development, and growth in Latin America juxtaposed with the crisis in the North. While the United States is in crisis on a number of fronts, Corradi envisions a world that will look significantly different after the crisis has run its course. For the first time, one can see cracks in America’s infrastructure and the limits of its power. On the flip side, Corradi proposes that this predicament for the U.S. provides Latin America with an opportunity to develop in many different ways.

As we enter the second decade of the new millennium, however, Corradi explains that the make-up of the world has significantly changed. Corradi argues that, “On the security front, global war has faded into the past. It has been replaced by nuclear proliferation, a greater risk of more regional wars, and one major new challenge: international terrorism. On the economic front, capitalism has encountered its own limits. Major crises have moved from the periphery to the center.” In other words, Corradi acknowledges that myriad conundrums facing the United States are essentially causing a power shift. While there is crisis in the North, the South (e.g., Brazil) is showing signs of development and growth.

There are other crises affecting the world on a whole as well. One of the most critical and urgent issues is overpopulation. It is predicted that by the year 2050, there will be nearly 10 billion humans on earth. Corradi states, “Humanity is crowded and the earth is tired.”

Expert reviewer Alejandro Rausch critiques the book as “A much-needed assessment of the crisis from the Latin American perspective. Juan Corradi provides a structural view of late capitalism and the necessary conditions for recovery and growth…” Corradi ultimately suggests that either two things will happen following the crisis: nothing will change—as it is “better the Devil you know than the Devil you don’t”—or there will be structural reform in an effort to prevent a future crisis. Corradi warns against complacency and remaining in the status quo, and predicts that these behaviors will only lead to sluggishness with regard to future development.

The book comes to a resounding climax when Eugenio Corradi emphatically punches his point home: “The world crisis offers Latin American countries an opportunity to prepare for a change in course. It is important to use the context of crisis to accelerate transformative actions designed to abate wealth concentration, inequity, poverty, and above all, to equip people with tools, tangible and intangible, to improve their lot.”

Essentially, Corradi’s text, through its simple, concrete language and easily accessible charts and startling statistics is a compelling read for anyone interested in learning more about the global power shift with regard to development, economics, and capitalism and the impact of the crisis on countries in Latin America.

There Is Life After What's His Name

   Do you ever wish that there were a handbook dealing with breakups in relationships that could actually empower you to move on with your life and let go of the past? Susan Russo’s There Is Life After What’s-His-Name is the answer to your wishes. Russo’s approach is your wake up call in this step-by-step recovery guide for those dealing with divorce, heartbreak, or unhealthy relationships.

Russo gleans from her years of experience as a relationship coach to provide practical, usable advice for those dealing with these painfully difficult issues. She also builds upon her previously published works on self-development, and combines that wisdom with sound guidance in navigating your way through troubled relationships.

The conversational style and ease of delivery with which she frames her recommendations, makes There Is Life After What’s-His-Name a comfortable read without compromising principles; Russo does not sacrifice honesty when dealing with these issues. She is straight-to-the-point about what one needs to do in order to move on in life. The book offers true-life stories of those who have gone through the pain of divorce or separation, making this book authentic in its content. Indeed, the reader will have no trouble relating to the situations presented.

To quote Russo, “Just because your relationship is over, doesn’t mean your life is over.” This book delivers the message that it surely is possible to survive broken relationships, with a resounding message that the meaning for life’s journey is based upon an internal peace that is not necessarily dependent upon whether or not an individual has a partner on that journey. Russo maintains that having a good life is always based on one’s perspective of any given circumstance that touches one’s life. It’s not what happens in life that matters as much as how one chooses to deal with what happens.

There Is Life After What’s-His-Name delivers hope for those who want to take back their power and move on with life, and says, “Yes, you can live life fully!” A must read for anyone who desires to find healing and contentment, despite the disappointment of lost or broken relationships.

There Is Life After What’s-His-Name by Susan Russo is available through the author’s website (www.susanrusso.com) and through Amazon.com.

Everybody Calls My Father, Father

   If it wasn't for the recent exposure of the Catholic Church's not so little dirty secrets, the true love story in this highly controversial and relevant book would not have been believed.

Tim “Dr. Hope” Anders’ Everybody Calls my Father, Father is a moving love story that has “future cinema” written all over it. Dedicated to his mother, Anders’ book is based on the true love story of his own parents, and the trials and tribulations they suffered as they pursued their forbidden romance. Everybody Calls My Father, Father is rich with authentic characters, some lovable, some heinous. Bouvette Sherwood (Ander's mother), who is a successful Broadway actress and producer, drives the plot.

The story opens up in 1946 at Rao's Italian restaurant, owned by Vincent Rao, a New York City gangster and long time friend of Anders' father. This is where the two main characters, Bouvette Sherwood and Hughie Hewitt develop an attraction toward one another that soon skyrockets into a steamy relationship. Hughie, a tall, handsome and utterly charming alcoholic, has a secret though, which he keeps from her during their intense courtship, he is a Catholic priest. Because he has vowed to uphold a lifetime of celibacy he tries to cool off his natural desires with alcohol. His mind tells him that he must break off the relationship, but his heart tells him otherwise. Soon it's too late, he has fallen helplessly in love with this alluring female.

Anders packs charged dialogue onto every page, putting the full arsenal of his writing skills and his characters’ charms on display. Hughie never leaves the priesthood, instead covertly he raises a family, hiding their existence from the church, at least for a while.

The plot explodes when the existence of Hughie's family is discovered by an overly ambition and ruthless Monsignor. Ander's exposes to the world despicable atrocities perpetrated by the Catholic Church in order to keep, what they deemed to be an illicit relationship, hidden from public view. At its very core, it’s a battle between the pure, basic love between a man and a woman and the power of the Catholic Church. There are numerous themes running concurrently throughout the book, such as love, betrayal, humor, conspiracy, and romance that work together to push you to turn the pages at an ever quickening pace.

Everybody Calls my Father, Father is more about the journey of love, rather than the end result. The journey is a liberating force that builds memories and immortal legacies that no one, not even the Church can touch or tarnish. Tim Anders inherits his mother’s humor, optimism, and belief that there is always hope.

Overall, Everybody Calls my Father, Father invites its readers to reexamine the entire concept of love and as Ander's puts it: the Catholic Church's self-serving, unnatural and antiquated rule of celibacy. This is a must-read that will expose a full array of extremely honest human emotions as it depicts the power of love and one woman’s perseverance against all odds.

The Brightwood Street Chronicles

   Deb Rhodes tells of the maltreatment and neglect she suffered as the abused stepchild of a pedophile, and the emotionally abandoned daughter of a passive, enabling woman in Brightwood Street Chronicles: Surviving Sexual Abuse in 60’s Suburbia. Rhodes’ memories are an account of childhood innocence in the ‘60s, from tree climbing and bike riding to hiding out in her backyard fort to write her first stories. These innocent pastimes became juxtaposed with frequent sexual assaults, effectively eroding her normal, childhood self.

I beg Ms. Rhodes to continue to express herself through poetry. I read the chronicles avidly, deciphering each analogy in wonder that the poised, controlled tone of Rhodes’ words was actually referencing vulgar acts of perversion. This composure is most admirable, and assures the reader that she has not been silenced by the abuse of her past. After years of being fearful to speak out, Rhodes’ experience with sexual abuse has finally been courageously documented. She hopes that this will extend a healing balm to, “women of all ages (including teens), though I believe it would also have an appeal to men who have daughters or wives, or have themselves lived through sexual abuse.”

Rhodes chronicle hits a triumphant note as one poem speaks of finally “finding her voice,” a feat surely encouraged by the women's movement that hit its stride during her twenties. Though it would be decades before she found her unique voice (and the ability to grant herself permission to use it), if not for America’s progress in the 1960s, I hate to think that Deb Rhodes and other victims of childhood rape may have forever been ostracized into silence by the stigma of abuse they suffered. Clearly Rhodes does not want pity for what she endured, but perhaps she will accept our sincere respect for sharing the conquering of such trauma, and for her chronicles that no doubt will touch the lives of more than just those whose childhoods parallel hers.

In truth, this collection can be seen as a cathartic outlet for the author, and a healing tool for other victims. In any case, Brightwood Street Chronicles stands alone as a creative and beautifully honest account of what happens when children are not valued, either by their molesters, or by the ones who should have been foremost in protecting their innocence.

33 Habits of A Really Good Man

   Yvonne Swinson’s 33 Habits of a Really Good Man is a truly uplifting memoir that delivers many positive messages, most importantly the message of hope. Bill Wells, Yvonne Swinson’s father, probably never imagined that his black notebook full of quotes would wind up the inspiration for a book of life lessons. Though he is no longer with us, he leaves us his legacy through inspirational quotes and simple teachings that reflect the way he lived.

Swinson pairs Bill Wells’ thirty-three habits with famous quotes, sometimes funny and always thought-provoking. Examples of the thirty-three habits include speaking softly, doing your best, change begins with me, I can, and many more. The words of Bill Wells will teach the world that the art of living a good life begins with forming good habits. Wells states, “It does no good to learn a thing if you don’t retain it—no better way to learn a behavior than to make it a habit.”

This relatively small adult read delivers one big lesson: do not complicate life more than necessary; be satisfied in life’s simplicity. For example, one of his habits was, “Don’t take offense.” This one truth alone can open the door to a truly content life.

Other habits such as “Dream Big,” “Laugh often,” and “Have fun,” seem so simple and straightforward, yet so few put forth the effort to do these. Most would agree that adopting these three habits would yield such beneficial results; it’s just a matter of slowing down, reflecting, and making time for what’s really important in life.

33 Habits of a Really Good Man is Bill Wells’ blessing to the world. Instead of being lost in history, we’re so fortunate that Yvonne is sharing her father’s thoughts on life.

This little book would make a perfect gift for a graduate or for anyone who simply needs a refreshing, new outlook on life. It’s a quick read full of uplifting mini-stories and quotes—it will not disappoint.